SAN DIEGO, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) named Jill Epstein, J.D. as executive director, effective May 2, 2011. Epstein has a rich portfolio of experience in the not-for-profit arena, including management posts in the health care, elder care, professional standards and certification, and finance industries.

"Epstein's deep expertise in health care and experience supporting a board of directors made her a standout candidate," said Jack Kennedy, president of the CAMFT Board of Directors. "She has a strong desire to work in a forward progression and push traditional boundaries and that will make her a great addition to CAMFT."

Epstein was most recently chief operating officer for the California Massage Therapy Council. Prior to that, she served as chief executive officer of the Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Chicago and held positions with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Retired Persons.

Epstein was awarded a law degree from the Washington College of Law, American University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Epstein is married with two children and lives in San Diego.

Epstein replaces Mary Riemersma. Riemersma will be retiring from CAMFT on April 30, 2011, after 26 years with the association. Riemersma will be a consultant to CAMFT to aid in the transition.

About CAMFT

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) is a professional organization dedicated to the advancement of the state's licensed and prelicensed Marriage and Family Therapists and the common interests of its 29,000 members. CAMFT provides CounselingCalifornia.com as a free resource for individuals looking for Marriage and Family Therapists located in California. Marriage and Family Therapists treat a comprehensive range of issues including depression, anxiety, phobias/fears, elder and child issues, relationship issues, post-traumatic stress, and severe mental illness. For more information, visit www.camft.org or www.counselingcalifornia.com.